Joint venture to manage jail, courthouse project

Turner, Winter awarded $6.5M bid

Posted
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 12:00 am

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ALDO NAHED

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved the $6.3 million selection of a construction management at risk services joint venture for the jail and courthouse project at their Dec. 6 regular meeting.

Donna Kukarola, the county’s procurement director, said the award was based on their experience.

“The schedule and the depth of the personnel we assign to the project, as well as the added service that Turner-Winter will provide to our project,” she said.

Additional services that Tuner-Winter is adding include a two-year warranty, instead of the usual one. They will also help manage the move-in. The county will pay for the move-in, but Turner-Winter will manage it.

The $6.3 million does not include the cost to build, which will be estimated once the design is completed.

“It was based on qualifications,” Kukarola said, “and not pricing, only.”

The new courthouse will be built across from the current one on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. The projected is expected to be completed in 2015.

Funds for the project are part of the $100 million courthouse and a jail expansion approved by voters as part of the 1-percent sales tax extension.

In October, commissioners approved going with a “town green” concept for the design.

The town green look for the courthouse creates a large landscaped green space in the middle of the city, but parking has been an issue.

The project team last week recommended building two parking decks downtown to accommodate the new courthouse.

The proposal calls for 450 parking spots in a four-level building behind the County Administration Building, 110 E. Main Street, and another 250 spots on a one-level deck on the corner of Castleberry Road and Maple Street.

The recommendations for the two parking garages will still have to undergo traffic studies and receive final Board of Commissioners approval.

In mid-January, demolition will begin on buildings along Veterans Memorial Boulevard to make way for the five-story tall courthouse.